Work Text:
“Wangji I have a matter I would like to discuss with you…it is rather…delicate?” Lan Huan said with a soft smile.
Delicate? Why did his brother want to talk to him about a delicate matter? Lan Zhan hoped with all his might that it was not an issue regarding a romantic entanglement…
“There is someone I have grown fond of….”
Wangji suppressed a groan. He prayed someone would send up a flare for help so he could escape the awkward moment.
Lan Huan sighed. “But I find myself too shy to approach them...”
Wangji stopped hoping for a sign of impending danger and frowned. His brother was the most personable Lan of all. He must like the person very much if he was finding it difficult to converse with them. Wangji knew all about that sort of affliction. He swallowed hard and thought about a wicked laugh and a smile that lit up his heart. Wangji made a decision. He loves his brother, if his brother needed help, he would help. No matter how embarrassing it may be.
“I will help you in whatever way I can,” he said.
Lan Huan beamed back at him. “Oh Wangji! I knew you would! Thank you!”
Wangji bowed. “What do you need?”
“I recently came across some of your writing…”
Wangji frowned. “My study notes?”
“No…your…personal writing…”
Wangji’s eyes widened in alarm. That meant the poems he had written for…for…
“Those were not for public consumption…” Wangji muttered under his breath.
Lan Huan squeezed his arm reassuringly. “Please know that I wasn’t snooping Wangji! I was looking for a composition for Uncle and I came across your sonnets quite by accident. I think they’re wonderful!”
Wangji stared at his brother but he showed no signs of awareness as to who Wangji’s muse was. He relaxed somewhat. “I was just experimenting.”
“Well you have a gift for it! I was wondering if you could write a similar letter for me to give to the person I want to impress?” Lan Huan asked hopefully.
“A letter of that nature should really come from you…”
“I do not have your way with words in the written form Wangji. I fear my heartfelt message would be completely lost in my terrible chicken scrawl. Will you please help me?”
As if Wangji could refuse the request of a beloved brother who never asked anything of him. “Mn.”
Lan Huan smiled. “Wonderful.”
“You will have to give me a physical description of them.”
“Oh long dark hair, a beautiful smile, sparkling eyes, a mischievous yet playful nature and a heart of pure gold,” Lan Huan said wistfully.
Wangji blinked. It seemed his brother and he shared a type. He wondered who the object of Lan Huan’s affections could be? He nodded his understanding of Lan Huan’s description. “The letter will be ready tomorrow.”
Lan Huan beamed. “Thank you Wangji, I knew I could count on you.”
**********
Wangji worked until late into the evening. His first few attempts felt stale and heartless. He soon found the best way to address the task was to pour his own feelings into the correspondence and so he did something that he rarely allowed himself to do. He thought of Wei Wuxian. He thought of his smile, his eyes, his hair and his big heart where he tried to fit as many people as possible and soon the words flowed like water onto the page.
“Oh this is perfect Wangji!” Lan Huan gushed when he received the letter. “You are a literary genius!”
Wangji nodded as his ears pinked under the praise. “I hope it will help…”
“I’m sure it will,” Lan Huan said with a smile.
**********
That evening Wangji found it difficult to sleep. His brother’s confession had put many thoughts into his head and he could not seem to shake off the jealousy that his brother had found what he wanted and found a way to obtain it while Wangji was still cowardly guarding his own secrets.
Eventually, he gave up on sleep and went for a walk. As usual his walk took him past the guest quarters where the visiting students were staying. It was then that Wangji saw his brother sneaking something under the door of the room Wei Wuxian and his brother shared and then disappearing into the night. Wangji frowned. Could Jiang Cheng be the one his brother desired? But no, the description he had given didn’t fit Jiang Cheng at all, but it did fit… no. No. It couldn’t be. Wangji refused to believe it. Even as he found himself walking silently over to the door where a corner of the letter could still be seen peeking out. He pulled on the corner and his heart slumped in his chest as he read the name of the recipient off the envelope. Part of him wanted to pick the letter up and run away with it. Another part of him wanted to tear it up or bury it in the woods. Instead he slipped the letter back under the door, walked back to his quarters, climbed into bed and stared at the ceiling until morning came.
**********
The following day, Wangji did everything he could to avoid his brother and Wei Wuxian which proved a difficult task as the two of them seemed adamant on seeking him out. Probably trying to let him know gently they were betrothed now. Well Wangji wasn’t ready to hear it and so he hid in the depths of the library until night fell.
When he did return to the Jingshi, he collapsed into bed too emotionally exhausted to even see to his evening meal or bath. He woke in the morning to a soft knock on the door. He reluctantly went to open it and found his brother standing there.
“Forgive me for the intrusion so early in the morning Wangji , but there is something I must discuss with you…” Lan Huan said, stepping inside.
Wangji felt anger bubble through him. “There is something I must also speak with you about,” he said.
“Oh?” Lan Huan asked with interest.
“I will fight you for his hand,” Wangji said firmly.
“What?” Lan Huan asked.
“I will fight you for his hand, winner takes all,” Wangji repeated.
Lan Huan looked amused. “There seems to be a slight misunderstanding…”
“We are no longer to be considered brothers from this day forward,” Lan Wangji said gruffly. “You are now my rival and I will…”
There was another knock at the door and Wangji huffed. So many visitors so early in the morning! He opened the door.
“Lan Zhan! I accept!”
Wangji blinked. One moment Wei Wuxian was standing in front of him and then a moment later, he was wrapped around him, hugging him tightly with his head buried in his neck. “I knew you liked me deep down, I knew it!” he said snuggling closer.
Wangji looked in bewilderment at Lan Huan who appeared to be about to burst with concealed delight. “As I was just about to explain to you brother, I delivered your letter to Master Wei and he sought me out the following day to ask how soon your betrothal to one another could be arranged…we were looking for you yesterday to organise the specifics but you appeared to be…unavailable…”
“I missed you, Gege,” Wei Wuxian pouted. Pulling back to look at Wangji. “You wrote me such lovely words and then you disappeared! You won’t do that again will you, Lan Zhan? We’re to be betrothed now, you have to stand by me, always.” Wei Wuxian hugged him again and Wangji finally allowed his arms to wrap around the boy in his arms.
“Won’t leave you again,” he vowed and Wei Wuxian made a pleased sound into his shoulder.
Lan Huan walked to the door. “Well, I shall see you both at lunch and we will discuss the boring details. Right now I’ll leave you to your…private negotiations.”
“Brother, thank you,” Lan Zhan said over Wei Wuxian’s shoulder. The apology was silent but Lan Huan knew it was present in Wangji’s words.
Lan Huan smiled back. “I am pleased to have you back as my little brother and not my terrifying rival Wangji,” he said mockingly but lovingly as he left.
“The two of you quarrelled?” Wei Wuxian asked, leaning back and taking Wangji’s hand in his.
Wangji shook his head. “It was a misunderstanding. All is well between us.”
Wei Wuxian smiled. “I’m glad. I can’t imagine anything in the world that could come between the twin Jade’s!”
“Mn,” Lan Zhan said with a secret smile. “Neither can I.”
*********